Russia denies that its Burevestnik cruise missile tests constitute nuclear weapons tests

Moscow, Oct 30,2025: Russia has said that its latest testing of the newly developed Burevestnik cruise missile, does not fall under the category of nuclear weapons tests restricted by international treaties, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified during a briefing on Thursday.
His remarks followed comments from US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post, where he announced that he had directed the Pentagon to carry out nuclear weapons tests in the same capacity as Russia and China. However, he did not specify the nature of the tests or whether they would involve detonating nuclear warheads.
“If (Trump) in some way refers to the Burevestnik tests as a nuclear test carried out by another country, that is in no way accurate. All nations continue to advance the development of their defence systems, but this does not constitute a nuclear test,” the Kremlin spokesman stressed, as per Russian media.
The Burevestnik is a newly developed nuclear-capable cruise missile by Moscow. Featuring the latest technological advancements, the cruise missile is the latest addition to the Kremlin’s extensive missile inventory.
Powered by a small nuclear reactor that gives it a virtually unlimited range, the missile – while capable of carrying nuclear warheads – was not developed as nuke.
According to a recent estimate by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Washington and Moscow’s nuclear arsenal alone accounts for over 90% of all nukes in the world.
China is noted to be steadily catching up, and could have over 1500 nukes by 2035, while India is focused heavily on upgrading and enhancing its nuclear missiles, advancing navigation capabilities, launch systems, and warheads. North Korea is also notably focusing heavily on advancing its ICBM programme.